The Race for the 6th Senatorial District-the Controversy, COD Betrays

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CORRECTION

 I kind of snarkily repeat a rumor in the text below about Delaware Senatorial 6 district primary contender, Ernesto Lopez, in this post below and in another post on this Blog, the link to it does not matter in this correction.


First....my resolve, this is the second big error I've been caught in on this Blog and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost I shall more thoroughly check my details in the future. Oncit upon a time maybe two or three people read this Blog but evidently we are now up to nine or ten readers.

At any rate, I provide a link below to the original post where the big gaffe in question was made but want to be sure it is seen by all. Ernesto Lopez was NOT the subject of a pleading email by the Vice Chair of the NewCastle county Republican party, hence my rant over the audacity of the NCC Vice Chair to insinuate himself into the politics of Sussex County.

It would turn out that the pleading by that same Vice Chair was made, in fact, on behalf of Lopez' opponent, Glen Urquhart.

My apologies to Ernesto Lopez, whose wife I met last night, and his two adorable daughters and I must admit I am very intrigued by the man's character and style.

But we'll be talking more about it in the future.

Now on to Glen Urquhart, whose campaign manager explained to me the reason for those emails. Seems that the position of NCC Republican Vice Chair of the sender was nothing but coincidental, that this same fellow is in charge of a faith based group. The email urging support for Glen Urquhart was based on his position as head of THAT organization rather than any affiliation with NCC Republican party.

In keeping with my policy of never erasing my content, I put this explanation at the top of the post that the reader knows there's addendums to the story they might read below.


Christine O'Donnell Betrays Those Who Supported Her

I really don't much care anymore.  I'm too involved with making the Delaware GOP into a more Conservative organization than what it had been.  It's been a battle and there are still Blue Blood elites out there determined to make the party back into a Mike Castle-type fiefdom.   Christine O'Donnell primaried Mike Castle out of there and if for no other reason, I am grateful for that.  I'd sure like for her to have respected the leanings of those who supported her before she went out to endorse Mitt Romney.  COD's base would never have supported Mitt Romney, she knows this.  But Mittens did endorse COD and I suppose it was a return favor.  Mittens needs somebody liked as a Conservative to endorse him, never mind that silly Juan McCain.

If no other hot-head extreme right-winger will summarize for the Delaware GOP and where it's going, allow me.  The Blue Blood need to admit that posing a Democrat as a Republican is not the way to go.  We understand that Delaware is mostly a blue state and this could be considered a methodology.  This only works for so long....if you don't want to admit it out loud Blue Bloods, at least admit it to yourself.  Few of us Sussex County barn burners wake up every day regretting that stupid Chris Coons is now in place of Mike Castle.  At least we KNOW who Coons is, he is not peeing upon our feet and calling it rain.

As for the pitchfork carriers, we likely need to learn a little more compromise, that while our anger at constant betrayal forced many of us seriously off-kilter, most of us want what's best for our county and country.  The Blue Bloods need to stop their superior sniffing and acknowledge. 

And it's not like our overhaul of the Sussex GOP has been without turmoil, witness the recent Sheriff and the Councilman fluff.

Finally, it would turn out that both Glen Urquhart and Christine O'Donnell would be, horrors, self-serving politicians.  The angry Sussex countians needs to get this and stop looking for the holy grail.  Mike Castle, I remind the Blue Bloods, was a most perfect fellow who never let political expediency get in front of his fervent principles.  I got a bridge to sell you believe that.






So good luck to Christine.  If she were to run again, which she probably won't, I'd probably vote for her so long as she ran on the same sort of platform as before.  Then, should she betray my vote as Mike Castle did so many times,  I'll vote her outta there, as should have been done long ago with Mike Castle so the Blue Blood Elites should learn.

As for Glen Urquhart, this fellow went on to man the position of Chair of the Sussex County GOP and by me, he did a very good job.  This brings up the flap over the new 6th state senatorial district and the race for same.

I have to smile at the short but acerbic response to COD's Romney endorsement by the local 9-11 Delware Patriots:

We have received emails requesting our position on this endorsement from Christine O'Donnell for Gov. Mitt Romney for President.


Our position is as follows:

The 9-12 Delaware Patriots are not linked with Christine O'Donnell. Her views do not represent those of the 9-12 Delaware Patriots as our members, individually decide who they want to support.

Our mission is to research and educate ourselves and our members to make informed decisions. We may not always agree, but we respect others opinions. As far as the 2012 Presidential Election, our members are split between all the candidates. At our meetings, members discuss the pros and cons of all the candidates in a respectful manner.

The 9-12 Delaware Patriots will not support or endorse any candidate but provides a forum through meetings and newsletters so that members can share information to make informed decisions.

Respectfully,
9-12 Delaware Patriots Board of Directors

All I got to add to this as per my feeling-WHAT THEY SAID!

The Run For the 6th State Senatorial District

It's a totally new district, this 6th state senatorial district, carved out due to the recent census, encompassing an are that includes, in part, the infamous somewhat liberal Lewes, Delaware area.

Glen Urquhart, after what has to arguably be the shortest term as Chair of the Sussex County GOP, has thrown down the gauntlet to run for that job.  Glen ran, to update, to fill the position in America's House of Representatives for the slot that was left open by Mike Castle's run for the senate.  Glen lost by a large percentage, the same percentage as COD lost by though the Blue Bloods want you to believe differently.  New Castle county around Wilmindelphia is greatly populated by Democrats and thieves, though I repeat myself, and what us souther heathans have learned is that the indigent, dull and dumb can vote and so it is.

Even with the wealthy liberals in Lewes it's a fairly simple task for Glen to win this position, what with his name recognition for the Sussex chair and his run for America's House.
Not so fast.

Now I don't want to be spreading rumors but allow me to spread some rumors.  Another candidate has risen from the ashes to challenge the Urquhart candidacy and this candidate, Ernesto Lopez,  is a)from New Castle county oncit and b)a handsome articulate fellow of Latino origin.  Scuttlebutt has it that this challenger was sponsored by the northern Delaware Blue Blood elites as they do not, DO NOT, want to let go of their power.  For as they reach across the aisle with buffed fingernails they will rip off the heads of their own base and poop down their bloody necks should they challenge Blue Blood power.

Okay, let me catch my breath.

As chance would have it, I will be attending a meeting to help form yet another state voting district known as the 20th Representative district.  At that meeting BOTH of these candidates will speak.  I shall listen carefully, I shall be fair, but know now that I lean toward Glen and that's how it is.  I will report back in another Delaware post.

The bigger controversy over this election is, get this, the co-chair of the New Castle party, an idiot burger named John Radell, sent out an email to all Sussex countians urging them to vote for Lopez.  I got a bridge to sell anyone who thinks that rumor about Lopez and his ties to the northern GOP are just rumors.  Cheap bridge, just been renovated.  This is one major reason why I do not trust this guy and take it to the bank, I will quiz him about this at that meeting that I mentioned.

What the hell right does the Vice-Chair of the New Castle county GOP have to be telling Sussex countians who to vote for in their own county?  If nothing illustrates my assertion that these norther Blue Blood Elites think they are better than us, it is this action.

This whole thing has caused quite a ruckous amonst Sussex County, even Kent county, Republicans, check out this thread on Delaware Politics Blog.

Fiskar Recalls Karma

Finally, does any of these new age non-workable Green job types of technology work?  With Delaware knee deep in so much of it.  That nutball wind farm turned out to be unworkable.

This Fiskar Karma can be gotten cheap, only $102,000.  A lot of its parts come from Finland, so much for Delaware jobs.  Now there's a recall, as is happening across the fruited plains with these silly electric cars.

Hey, I'd buy an electric car in a minute assuming a)it was as cheap and convenient to operate as gasoline powered vehicles b) it was safe c)there were widely available ways to re-charge them.

But hey, the gubmint got involved.  Folks, the gubmint has NEVER invented anything and goodness knows gubmint bureaucrats are known worls wide for their innovativeness and creativity.

-Bachelor Ben Begins His Search Anew After His Rejection by Ashley

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Ben Flajnik Begins His Search For a Love

I get a smile every time I think about this reality series for as far as reality shows go, this one is scripted to an art.  It airs on Monday nights, 8pm/c on ABC.

Since I only have a quick, somewhat snarky review of the first show in this series, some background below.

  Ashley did not, keeping up with the refreshment, choose Ben.  Ben was one of the final two choices and is now the star of the show on this season's Bachelor.

Below, I shamelessly quote the ABC web site when the announcement that Ben was the next Bachelor was announced.  It gives as good an over-view of the fellow as most anything.

Millions of viewers shared the heartbreak of Ben Flajnik (pronounced Flannick) when his soulful and heartfelt proposal was rejected by Ashley Hebert in the emotional finale of last season's The Bachelorette. Now Ben is ready to put all the disappointment and hurt behind him in order to move on with his life, his phenomenal success as a businessman and his search for the right woman to be his wife and to start a family with, as he stars in the next edition of ABC's hit romance reality series, The Bachelor, when it returns to ABC in January 2012.


The 28-year-old bachelor has fallen in love three times (Ashley being the third), but has only proposed the one time; that one failed proposal won't stop him from trying again. He is confident that, having found love on The Bachelorette, he will find his soul mate and a lasting, love-filled relationship this time on The Bachelor.

Ben, whose easy going charm and sense of humor made him so popular and relatable to viewers, is part of a very close knit family, including his mother and sister. Unfortunately his father, Joseph, with whom Ben was best friends, died almost four years ago. Always supportive, his father personified the kind of husband and father Ben wanted to be. Ben grew up in Sonoma, California, leaving for Tucson before he started high school because of his dad's work. His mother is a teacher of third grade "gifted students." Ben stayed in Arizona to attend the University of Arizona, majoring in music production with a minor in business. He quickly found success in the business world, working in Internet advertising after he graduated college. After his father died in 2007, Ben moved back to California, and he plans to stay in northern California for the foreseeable future.

A rare, modern Renaissance man, Ben dabbles in a lot of hobbies and crafts, such as crab fishing, sailing, golf, skate boarding, surfing, playing piano and singing in a tribute band. He is also quite handy with a hammer and saw, and loves fixing and building things, as well as landscaping. The woman who will share his life will also have to share one of his other great loves: his Jack Russell Terrier, Scotch.

Finally, still without shame, I give links to two of my posts on The Morton Report.  This is a post about Ashley's final three.  This is a post about that Bachelor mainstay, "The Men Tell All".

So how was the first show?

Heh.

Well it was typical but with a few surprises.  The purpose of the first show on The Bachelor(ette) series is to bring a whole slew of contenders so that a whole bunch of them can get eliminated right from the start.  The pattern is to have some interesting, silly, intriguing presentations bound to pull in the viewers.  Only this time they really went overboard.

I didn't mind the grandmother who came along with her granddaughter.  You have to know the producers gave permission for this else all the others would be bringing in their overbearing mothers, clench-fisted fathers, shrew-eyed brothers.  I didn't mind the big hat thing that had one contender wearing some kind of stupid big hat supposed to make her stand out.  I actually thought the beauty contestant wearing her winning sash to be a bit clever, meant to impart to viewers that this is a self-centered woman that Ben should avoid.

But that ersatz lesbian scene was just over the top.  Not to be a prude, I wouldn't have a problem with this is this show aired at 10pm.  To have this sort of thing going out over the public air waves at the family hours of 8 and 9 pm was almost illegal as I see it.  Oh they didn't have two females kissing or anything but it was chock full of inuendo.  It was only a matter of time, really, before that boundless bevy of females was resourced for every man's fantasy, women in and making love with each other.

Tasteless.  Men aren't watching this show, producers, cut it out.





Below, the original 25 contenders:

Brittney Age: 26Occupation: Medical Sales RepHometown: Colorado Springs, CO

Casey S. Age: 26Occupation: Trading ClerkHometown: Leawood, KS

Courtney Age: 28Occupation: ModelHometown: Scottsdale, AZ

Dianna Age: 30Occupation: Nonprofit DirectorHometown: San Gabriel, CA

Elyse Age: 24Occupation: Personal TrainerHometown: Chicago, IL

Amber B. Age: 23Occupation: Labor and Delivery NurseHometown: Port Coquitlam, Canada

Amber T. Age: 28Occupation: Critical Care NurseHometown: Waverly, NE

Anna Age: 25Occupation: StudentHometown: Ontario, Canada

Blakeley Age: 34Occupation: VIP Cocktail WaitressHometown: Rutherfordton, NC

Jenna Age: 27Occupation: BloggerHometown: Loveland, OH

Jennifer Age: 28Occupation: AccountantHometown: Cache, OK

Kacie Age: 24Occupation: Administrative AssistantHometown: Clarksville, TN

Lindzi C Age: 27Occupation: Business Development ManagerHometown: Ocala, FL

Lyndsie J Age: 29Occupation: Internet EntrepreneurHometown: London, England

Monica Age: 33Occupation: Dental ConsultantHometown: Yuba City, CA

Nicki Age: 26Occupation: Dental HygienistHometown: Hurst, TX

Rachel Age: 27Occupation: Fashion Sales RepHometown: Southhampton, MA

Samantha Age: 26Occupation: Advertising Account ManagerHometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Shawn Age: 28Occupation: Financial AdvisorHometown: Cincinnati, OH

3rd over-Sheryl Age: Age is just a numberOccupation: Grabbing life when and wherever I can

4th over-Shira Age: ??Occupation: ActressHometown: Massapequa Park, NY

The first three are repeats.

Emily Age: 27Occupation: PhD StudentHometown: Chapel Hill, NC

Erika Age: 23Occupation: Law StudentHometown: Charlottesville, VA

Holly Age: 34Occupation: Pharmaceutical Sales RepHometown: Salyersville, KY

Jaclyn Age: 27Occupation: Advertising Account ManagerHometown: Newton, MA

Jamie Age: 25Occupation: Registered NurseHometown: Dryden, NY

I only have a few notes from the first show aired on 1/2/2012.  Lindsay received the first impression rose, which, in the history of the show, indicates nothing.  I smile that contender Jenna says her occupation is "Blogger".  What a hoot.  And how much money does Jenna get from this job I must wonder.

We'll be keeping tabs on this series as the "Journey" continues and as "Connections" are made.  Those are buzz words by the way.

-God Bless Eve Carson-She Wanted Her Killers to Pray With Her. More True Crime

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Eve Carson Asked Her Murderers to Pray With Her

Laurence Lovette's mother must be just so proud of him. Demario Atwater's mother must too be beaming with pride.

For these two sub-humans decided early one morn to take a ride to find somebody to rob. They chanced upon Eve Carson, a scholar student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

They forced Carson to go with them to a nearby ATM where she withdrew $700 from her bank account, the daily limit.

One of the fine young men , the joy of their mothers' eyes,

testified that Eve, in her terror, asked the two heathens to pray with her.

They not only did NOT pray with her, they forced her out of the car and shot her in the head four times with a sawed off shotgun.

Atwater was sentenced to two life sentences. Lovette was a minor at the time of the crime thus not eligible to the death penalty. The judge sentenced Lovette to life in prison plus an additional twenty years.

Eve Carson's body was left, dead, in the parking lot.

Mourning: The family of Eve Carson, father Bob Carson, left, mother Teresa Carson, center, and brother Andrew Carson, right, leave her March 9, 2008 funeral

If ever there was a sad disregard for life it's this horrible story.

Survivor Producer Kills Wife and Man In Cancun, Returns to Face Trial


As a Survivor fan I couldn't ignore this tidbit. Seems a former producer is guilty of murdering his wife.


Former "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman has decided to return to Mexico voluntarily to face trial for the murder of his wife, according to his attorneys.

I can't imagine going on trial in Mexico of all places. But in 2010 he killed his wife and another man in a resort in Cancun.

His wife of 11 years was beaten to death, how awful. They had been staying in a room with their children. It's not clear why the other man was killed but I suspect a love triangle.






Fast and Furious-What Were They Thinking?


It's been a year since a smuggling Mexican thug shot and killed Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Smuggling drug thugs from Mexico are nothing unusual and at times those charged with protecting our borders get in the way of the trade they ply.


The big difference in this case is that the gun was provided to the murderer by our own United States Government.

I do not think the Obama administration is going to waltz away with this stupid, stupid action. If nothing else, the most intelligent and honest DA in the history of this country, Eric Holder, should get his ass kicked, unceremoniously, out of office.



The plan was to supply the Mexican drug lords with a bunch of American guns. The many shootings and deaths that would then directly blamable to American guns would then be fodder for an gun control campaign that would have Obamer apologizing profusely to Mexico, of course as this is what he does. But to light some fire under the nearly dead issue of gun control, a situation would have to be crafted. Truth has nothing to do with it. Manipulating the news, with the help of the dishonest news media, would be part of it.

On the anniversary of his death, the family of slain Border Patrol. agent Brian Terry released a strong statement calling for criminal charges to be pursued against those ultimately responsible for Operation Fast and Furious — the gun-walking program that led to Terry’s murder.

Some nitwit dreamed up this "Operation Fast and Furious" where the ATF would deliberately allow American guns go into Mexico and I must suppose that a PR campaign would follow that would have Obamer chastising us gun-loving Americans for killing Mexican citizens to the point where our guilt would have us outlawing them.

America is just way more sophisticated than it was in the day of John Brady, a victim of a crazy man's gun and the namesake of the last big anti-gun campaign launched sucessfully on America. Since then, well there's been 9-11, for one thing. Americans have learned that taking away the guns of the GOOD guys does not remove them from the BAD guys. Americans, a nice people who mostly don't wish harm on others, didn't want to be in a position where the bad guy has a gun and the good guy doesn't.

No mind the silly liberal attempt to name guns that don't require manual re-loading after every round as "automatic", attempts at far-reaching gun control just isn't an issue any more.

Except if a bogus scenario is somehow cooked up that would have senoritas and bambinos dying horrifically by guns given to Mexican drug lords by capitalistic Americans.

So Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was killed under that same scenario but I doubt the very intelligent and honest Eric Holder, the best, the BEST, Attorney General American has ever had, wanted it to turn out quite that way. When Eric, in agreement with Obamer I've no doubt at all, began this silly exercise to begin an anti-gun PR campaign, they thought that only the BAD guys, and maybe some in-the-way innocent civilians, would die at the hand of the American guns they deliberately let go across the border. I'm sure that they didn't want any Americans to die by their diabolical plan, much less a Border Patrol agent.

Now Eric Holder, the most honest DA in American history, has to lie in front of congressional panels investigating the matter, not that lying's all that difficult for Holder, the BEST DA in American history, as the history books, written by the liberal elite, will no doubt note.

The people involved in this debacle need to pay for their folly.

I suppose they asked themselves when they dreamed up this nonsense….WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

 Woman of the year?

Are You Kidding Me?

I have a granddaughter, a precious 8 year old female child. She seems to be fairly well-adjusted. She is growing up in a culture, forged by females like me, that affords women equal protection and rights under the law, equal pay for equal work, the same rights as the males in the culture.

Somehow a woman who stands by a raping husband is NOT a female I'd want my granddaughter to emulate.

I know it's France and France done lost any claim to common sense long ago.

The woman is a millionaire so it's not like she'd be thrown out on the street with children soon to be street urchins.

Where's the pride in standing behind a boor like Dominique Strauss-Kahn?

Millionairess Anne Sinclair, 63, won the annual award for her ‘loyalty and courage’ in the face of her husband’s catalogue of humiliating sex scandals.

As an aside, I believe that man really raped that hotel maid but if it wasn't out and out rape, as the regal Dominique feel he so justly deserves for his affiliation with female boobs like his wife, it still wasn't proper behavior for a married man.

And there's more in the man's past and I got a bridge to sell, cheap, to anybody what thinks this man was in love with that hotel made, their relationship only consummated after a long fight against the love and lust that so consumed that fine man.

Cheap bridge, just been renovated.

Speaking of Nut Ball Females

There's always women, men too though there's not as many females languishing in a jail cell awaiting opposite sex love, who just ain't right on the head.

Joran van der Sloot, goodness here's a man who's killed two women but this fact only makez him all the more lovable to the females amongst us not playing with a full deck.

She's 55 years old, considerably older than Joran, she's a Radiologist, not an occupation for dummies, she's not unattractive.

I'd suggest she could probably get a man if she wanted.

Infamous accused killer Joran van der Sloot has yet to receive a visit from his own mother as he sits awaiting trial in a Peruvian prison, but an American stranger has made the 5,200-mile round trip to van der Sloot’s prison cell — three times.

I'd also suggest that she really doesn't want an ordinary man, that she likes the smell of danger, the murderer's scent.

God Bless and if, somehow, someway, who knows, Joran kills her….I'll shake my head ruefully but I shall not grieve.

So many deserving people in need of the money this woman wastes on that nothing-burger.


BODY FOUND ON QUEEN'S PROPERTY!!


Well how could any True Crime Aficionado ignore a body found on the Queen of England's estate?

This is a breaking news story as of this writing; we'll update on future posts.

As I understand it though this are is technically part of the Queen's estate, it is open to the public. In fact it was a guy walking his dog who found the body.

The discovery on New Year's Day of a woman's body on the grounds of the estate used by Queen Elizabeth II and England's royal family is now being treated as a murder investigation, British police said today.

The expanded investigation comes one day after a dog-walker made the discovery, finding human remains in a woodland area at Anmer, a tiny village northeast of London that is also part of the Sandringham estate.

Woman Stabs Co-Attendee in Anger Management Class



Heh.

Looks like someone's going to fail this class.

An Oregon woman in an anger management class is accused of stabbing her classmate in the neck during an argument about a "Dr. Phil" show.

-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Chip-Wrecked-The Chipmunks Cute Us Out Again

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Alvin, the Chipmunks and the Chipettes, How Long Will Cute Keep Them Going?

I was intrigued with the first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie-link to review of first movie- in that I am old enough to remember the first Alvin and the Chipmunks song.  It was a Christmas song, popular during the late 50's.

It was just the cutest thing, those little chipmunks singing of their joy of Christmas.  Little Alvin was a bad fellow and the singer kept shouting at him to behave during the song.  In fact, Alvin proclaims during that famous song that he wants a hula hoop. Goodness hula hoops were all the rage during that era. The song has been played during all Christmas seasons since but for us older folk it does bring back memories and a smile.

So I took granddaughter Kaitlyn, age 8, to the first Chipmunk movie and it was a joy. In due course we went to see this movie as somehow there's sprouted up a chipmunk and chipettes as singing cute cartoon characters and now Kaitlyn, whose never seen a hula hoop and would smirk at it if she did, now enjoys movies about these animated characters sprung from a song so long ago.

The "stars" of this movie were:

Jason Lee ... Dave -below

David Cross ... Ian -right
Jenny Slate ... Zoe -bottom
Justin Long ... Alvin (voice)
Matthew Gray Gubler ... Simon (voice)
Jesse McCartney ... Theodore (voice)
Amy Poehler ... Eleanor (voice)
Anna Faris ... Jeanette (voice)
Christina Applegate ... Brittany (voice)
Alan Tudyk ... Simone (voice)
Michael P. Northey ... Hawaiian Shirt Guy (as Michael

Note that some of the stars were stars in terms of their voices but there were live characters in this movie. The movie picked up on the ongoing feud between Dave, the caretaker of the Chipmunks, and Ian, the evil producer who wants to make a fortune on this precious find of chipmunks that sing.

It would turn out that Dave was on a cruise, now with both the Chipmunks and the Chipettes.  The little critters are en route to a major award show to receive one of their own. Alvin, continuing to follow the original premise of the story, is a bad little dude who somehow manages to catapault all of the chipmunks off of the cruise ship to end up on what would appear to be a deserted island.






Dave, along with the evil Ian, go off in search of them all and the story takes off from there. The Chipmunks along with their Chipette counterparts, get themselves into all sorts of trouble, involving spider bites that change personalities, a strange woman living on the island searching for gold, an erupting volcano and the cuter than cute love angle between Simon and the shyest Chipette.

Okay, so okay. I think it's enough of the Chipmunk thing. OR, perhaps any sequels should be restricted to kids five and under, that might be nice.

For Kaitlyn of the eight years will likely not want to see any future moview although there's always the popcorn, the candy and the visit to Play McDonald's afterwards.  Cause cute can only carry you for so long.

IMDB code for this movie.

-Happy 2012! Some Best Of 2011, Some Predictions for 2012

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TOP TEN POSTS OF 2011 FOR THIS BLOGGER

Let us begin with some shameless self-promotions.  This list is based on the cherished stats of Bloggers across the fruited plains....HITS!

1. 2011 Emmy fashion awards-the good, the bad, the ugly, some categories invented.

2.Extreme Makeover Post #1-more benign. 

3.Extreme Home Makeover Post-#2-The hideous truth is revealed.

4. Interview with Simon Cowell of X Factor

5.The Sheriff and the County councilman-Sussex county political tale

 6. Dancing with the Stars- got the most hits of the coverage, I don't know why.

  7. .Book review UNBROKEN-Best book of 2012-here's the review
  8.  Review-movie Happy Feet 2-couldn't get in to see the Muppets-this one was ok
  9.  Miscellany-some gossipy snark, humor, household hints-readers liked.
 10. First look at Top Chef Contenders-this series still ongoing.

 Best Reality Shows 2011...per nobody with any more clout than me

Left to right-The Voice, The Glee Project, The X Factor, Jersey Shore Season 3, Amazing Race


Also included-Top Chef Master 3, Dancing With the Stars, Kim Kardashian's wedding,So You Think You Can Dance.

I'd remove anything with "Glee" in the name, I add, of course and it's silly NOT to include, American Idol.  Also the Bachelor(ette) series, Celebrity Apprentice, Next Food Network Star, Master Chef, Big Brother.

Best Books of the Year
As per the Amazon top sellers.

2. Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson
3. "Bossypants" by Tina Fey
4. "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard
5. "The Mill River Recluse" by Darcie Chan
6. "In the Garden of the Beasts" by Erik Larson
7. "A Dance with Dragons" by George R.R. Martin
8. "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain
9. "The Litigators" by John Grisham

10. "The Abbey" by Chris Culver
11. "Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle)" by Christopher Paolini

I'm flabberghasted that a book by Tina Fey would be in the top ten.  This is such a miserable woman I can't help but think her book would be depressing.  Not sure what year it was written but I read Unbroken by Lauren Hillebrand in 2011 so it would be in MY best 2011 book.




Top Ten Media Disasters of 2011

Again, this is by somebody with an opinion but I thought some of the entries somewhat fascinating, if not an outright lie.

10. Hank Williams, Jr. Compares President Obama to Adolf Hitler

In October, country singer Hank Williams, Jr. was fired up during an appearance on Fox and Friends. While reflecting on a golf match between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, Mr. Williams quipped, "It would be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu." ESPN promptly dropped his theme song as its Monday Night Football opener.

I happen to hear this episode on Fox the morning it happened.  Talk about your major over-reaction to a nothing burger comment. 

9. Sarah Palin's "Blood Libel"

Months before Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was shot in Tucson, Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) released a "crosshairs map," which placed a target over Ms. Giffords' congressional district. In the days after the shooting, Ms. Palin was blamed by some journalists for the shooting.

Palin was upset by media stories connecting her to the crime; she was right that no evidence linked the shooter to her map. But she over-reacted, gracelessly blaming the media for committing "blood libel." That term is most commonly used as an anti-Semitic slur referring to Jews murdering Christians. Her poll numbers immediately plummeted among Independents and Republicans.

Oh please, her poll numbers did not plummet , tell a lie why not?  The only entity that came out looking dumb over that stupid attempt to blame Sarah Palin on the shooting of Gabby Giffords was the media for carrying the water of idiots.

7. Rupert Murdoch Channels Tony Hayward

While testifying before the British Parliament in July, News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch was asked whether he accepted the ultimate responsibility for his company's phone hacking scandal. Not only did he say "no," but he delivered his answer without even a hint of humility. By delivering such an indifferent answer, he gave former BP Executive Tony "I'd like my life back" Hayward competition as the world's most clueless corporate executive.

I know the  dishonest Lamestream media gets into hooting hollering monkey mode over the comedown of Rupert Murdoch but this has been, and still is, a nothing burger of story it almost makes one feel sad for the antique media.

6. Rick Perry's "Oops" Moment

During a Republican presidential debate in November, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) confidently declared he would eliminate three government agencies – and promptly forgot what they were. For 47 painful seconds, Mr. Perry tried to recall the third agency he would eliminate. He finally gave up, shrugged his shoulders, and lamely said, "Oops." That one moment likely sank any remaining chances Mr. Perry had of winning the nomination.

So Rick Perry forgot the name of a gubmint agency, not that there aren't a million of them all with cryptic letters, all populated with bureaucrats, all existing to make life miserable for the average American.  Who could blame Perry for forgetting one?  Except the dishonest Lamestream media, who laugh amongst themselves really.  Out here in the fruited plains across la-la land we forget stuff oncit in a while and we aren't part of some silly group considers themselves elite and really special.

         1. Anthony Weiner's Twitter Scandal

Self-immolations rarely come in more spectacular fashion than when Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) was caught tweeting naughty photos to strangers in June.
His approach to crisis management was to deny the charges and claim his Twitter account had been hacked; call a reporter a "jackass;" say that although he hadn't sent the photos, he couldn't rule out "with certitude" that the erect undies shot was of him; hold a tearful press conference to admit he had actually tweeted the photos himself; watch helplessly as a nude photo of his penis was released; and resign in shame. After Mr. Weiner resigned, a Republican won his seat, costing Democrats a critical seat in the House of Representatives.

The compiler of this list is right on the above.  Anthony Weiner looked so stupid during this episode that even the antiquated Lamestream couldn't hold back their mockery though Weiner is a liberal like them.  What a dope Weiner was, he must have thought we were all born at night, LAST night!

For a Smile-Some Choices for Top Ten Twitter Pics-2012

Ashton Kutcher did damage control after taking Joe Paterno's side when he got fired from the Penn State football program. According to the actor, he didn't think before he engaged his mouth. So he posted a picture to prove it. ED- I think this was a picture of Kutcher with his foot in mouth.

Kate Hudson unveiled the newest member of her family under her own terms -- on Twitter. She and boyfriend, Matt Bellamy, showed baby Bingham off with absolute pride and personal discretion.

After weeks of "is she or isn't she" rounds with the media, Jessica Simpson finally showed off her baby bump. She dressed as a mommy mummy for Halloween.

The biggest surprise on this list of top ten celebrity Twitter pics is that teen bride, Courtney Stodden, and adulteress, Michaele Salahi aren't among them. That's a good thing though. Both women received more than their share of attention this past year.

So What About 2012?

I have some predictions.  My predictions are as good as those by Dick Morris I rightfully assert.

-Mitt Romney will be next president;the Obamas bid adieu-ED-I don't want Romney, just predicting.

• -Repubs take over Senate
•  
• -Repubs keep House
•  
• -stock market takes a big jump
• -William and Kate have a child
•  
• -Tea Party returns with demands to repeat Obamacare
•  
• -Donald Trump endorses Newt Gingrich/does NOT run as 3rd party candidate. 

We shall see.

Top Chef Texas Elk? Ty-Lor, Paul Forge Ahead

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Going in a different direction

Seriously, who eats elk? Then again who eats boar, or sorghum quail for that matter?

Of course people eat game, I understand this.  And a recent challenge on Top Chef Texas that challenged the contenders to prepare a fine meal of game for a dining club that ate game exclusively was an interesting round on this show which does throw cooking challenges out that exceed your hamburger. 

Previous posts of Top Chef Texas on this Blog can be found HERE where I delve into the contenders' personalities and HERE , where I complain about a main course of rabbit.  The most recent episodes of Top Chef Texas continue on as the game cooking challenge episode foretold the ejection of a very disliked contender and the interesting food choices continue to intrigue.

Again, who eats elk?

Lions in an African savannah perhaps but while I know that quail and venison are common game meals, I've never heard of elk on the menu.

We've got a couple of contenders starting to look good though it's too soon for a prediction.

For the game competition, Beverly and Heather were teamed up to prepare duck.  Heather came off as a real b-word woman, complaining about Beverly and how slow she is.  The following episode, with a challenge of preparing a dish by the chefs inspired by the one person in their life who most inspired their cooking, Heather landed in the bottom three while Beverly was in the top three.  Heather, who really was a nasty one that one, got sent home. 

Ty-lor, with no idea why he has a dash in his name like that, prevailed during the quickfire challenge of preparing a dish with tequilla, a dish involving clams and caramel sauce, and he was also part of the winning team in the game challenge with a dish involving sorgham quail.

Contender team Nyesha and Dakota got sent home for their dish of venison.  My goodness, these two are Top Chefs and they served up a dish of venison that was very bloody.  Venison is one of the few game dishes most people have even eaten and they couldn't prepare the meat properly?

Paul Qui, a contender hailing from Austin, has been showing up well in several quickfires and eliminations challenges and he's one to watch for.  Qui won the bacon quickfire challenge on the most recent episode as of this writing, along with a check for $10k from Healthy Choice.  Gotta smile at a bacon challenge sponsored by Healthy Choice but there you have it.

The competition for Top Chef Texas is done to eleven. The cooking will go on well after year end. Watch Paul Qui and Ty-Lor closely and keep an eye on Sarah to the side.

Top Chef Texas airs on the Bravo channel on Wednesday nights at 10pm Est.

History Channel's "Invention USA"- Some Genius, Some Flops, Always Intriguing

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• Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No!"
"Are we there yet?"
"NO!"

Removing Popcorn Ceilings Might Not Be Worth It
There was an invention program on recently, forget the name, station and details but I recall some of the particulars. There was a panel of two men and a woman. Inventors would appear before them in a dramatic entrance and as a jester before the court. The inventors would display their invention, provide data such as how much money has already been invested, gains and publicity exposure to the ongoing product and finally, how much money the inventor would need to sell some part of the profits of their invention to any member of the panel willing to bid.


The panel would then pepper the inventor with questions about the product. After the Q&A session the member of the panels would either remove themselves from the bidding or often they would make a counter-offer. So if an inventor was offering 10% of his handy widget business for an investment of $50,000, the interested panel member might come back with an offer of meeting the dollar amount of the requested investment dollars but for a 50% interest in the inventor's widget company.

The inventor would often go offstage to consider any counter-offer, or even to downsize his own offer if he or she thinks a reduction might move the recalcitrant but interested members of the panel.

At some point a deal was struck and all in all, it was a pretty interesting program.

According to the History channel web site, Invention USA, which airs on Friday nights from 9 to 10 pm EST:

Invention USA follows Reichart Von Wolfsheild and Garrett Lisi, both innovators and scientists with ties to investors, as they go in search of the next breakthrough invention. Whether they're traveling the country to visit garage innovators at home or meeting with inventors at their Los Angeles testing lab, Reichart and Garrett will put prototypes to the test and give a tough, no-nonsense evaluation of each invention's potential. If they like what they see, they'll invest to help bring the product to market. The stakes are high and dreams are on the line: Every idea has the potential to change someone's life... or even the world.

The two hosts of this History channel show are the equivalent of the illustrious panel of that show in my memory. I'm not sure what the description "with ties to investors" means but the similarity of this show to the other one is evident.

In this version of the show, the would-be investors in the invention actually go to the locale of the inventor as opposed to the inventor bringing the invention to the investors. Which is a good thing as the two inventions I saw being demonstrated would have been ill-presented in the confines of a television studio.

On invention was a real hoot. Though I'm no investor in inventions, I got eyeballs and some common sense. The invention of the "popcorn ceiling remover" had a lot of flaws beginning with its very concept.


Which is not to deny the irritation of the popcorn ceiling and the angst the removal can cause to homeowners. Now I don't know who came up with the idea of the popcorn ceiling but there was a reason for it. Ceiling sheetrock is often the site of nasty water stains should there be a leakage which causes water to have trickled down before a fix. Ordinary paint before the invention of sealant type paint didn't cover these ugly stains and aside from totally replacing the sheetrock, the notion of a thick layer of paint filled with a type of fiber that covered the stains. Popcorn ceiling paint was also used to cover ceiling tiles once used prolifically on ceilings.

Whatever the case, popcorn ceilings are so 70's and there's a whole country out there filled with ceilings painted with popcorn paint. Removing popcorn ceiling paint is a nasty dirty job. All of that filler used in the paint for popcorn ceilings has to come raining down and it all lands somewhere.

Still and so, seriously, there are only so many popcorn ceilings in America. Sure they're in abundance now but for how long would and investor in a popcorn-ceiling-removing invention get any return before all of the popcorn ceilings across the fruited plains were gone?

Further, well you had to see this Rube Goldberg invention the inventor used to remove the popcorn ceiling. It was hooked up to a vacuum cleaner device and had a big awkward hose that collected the paint fibers. So the air and floor wasn't filled with popcorn ceiling fiber but using the device designed to capture the debris was tiring. One had to wonder if it wouldn't just be easier to wait for the air born debris to settle then sweep up everything with a broom rather than get a backache and shoulder pain from wielding the invention designed to eliminated all that effort.

Wolfshield and Lisi chose NOT to invest in this invention.

Next, a construction worker designed a better and more stable ladder. This invention had a separate drop-down part that steadied and evened out the ladder when it was placed on uneven or less stable surfaces. This was a bit of genius, in fact, because no matter the warnings, when people need a ladder they grab what they have and set it up with more of an attention paid to reaching what needs reaching than nonsense like avoiding a fall of tip over.

Wolfshield and Lisi actually test out the submitted inventions themselves and at times it's amusing. They tested out a newly designed safety harness designed to protect a worker from strangulation, or emasculation, from a fall off of a scaffold or other high construction site. They took a turn at removing the popcorn ceiling and they climbed the re-designed ladder.

This is an interesting show, easy to watch and inspiring in a fashion. Check it out on the History channel for someday these inventions might be the stuff of great history.

Santa Claus Eats Cats!

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Santa Claus Eats Cats!

Matthew is a big orange tabby cat. He has a sweet face with wide, round kittenish eyes. Until recently he lived with three female cats, now two female cats. It's been a long time since Matthew had a few male buddies as housemates and he especially missed his all time favorite cat buddy, a big orange tabby like himself that humans called Bruiser. Bruiser did live up to his name as he was a big fellow, though as gentle as a lamb. Bruiser was the head cat of the then 6 cats living in the human household and Matthew adored him.

One day Bruiser was gone and recently, a female housemate cat, Lucy, also suddenly was gone. Matthew fretted about it all as co-cats seemed to come and go in the human household and Bruiser wasn't sure what it all meant. For the past several human months Bruiser has been feeling some aches and pains in his joints and it's all made him a bit grouchy.

And while Bruiser tolerates his female co-cats, the youngish Lily will pluck his very last nerve from time to time.

Lily is a calico cat, seven years younger than Matthew and by the way she bounces and flounces around the human household she might as well be a kitten next to Matthew's cat curmudgeon self. The other co-cat, Lisa, is a meek thing and always yields all things of cat interest to Matthew or Lily, and before that, to Lucy.

Matthew wasn't sure what happened to Lucy except she spent a few weeks under the couch while the humans called and cajoled her. Matthew, familiar with the ways of cats, knew that Lucy was sick by her behavior, so did the humans for that matter, but Lucy wasn't old, darn she was five years at least younger than Matthew. Matthew heard the humans fussing over Lucy, debating whether to take her to the Vet. Matthew hated the Vet and hoped Lucy wouldn't have to go. He wanted Lucy to get better and for awhile it appeared that she would. Finally Lucy evidently went to the same place as Matthew's hero, Bruiser, as well as some other co-cats that died of old age as all creatures do.

The humans have pictures of all the pets they've had through the years and while human written language is something beyond Matthew's ken, he's seen the humans' picture of something called Rainbow Bridge on their wall with pictures of the former co-cats who now live there, including Bruiser's picture. Matthew figured he would someday also go to this Rainbow Bridge place but he hoped it wouldn't be for a long time. For now he'll settle for a rambunctious life with Lily and a peaceful co-existence with Lisa. Matthew sure would like to know that his best buddy Bruiser is okay and waiting for him at Rainbow Bridge, maybe even say Hi to Lucy.

Lily is just an unbelievable cat, always getting into trouble, always declaring whatever suited her fancy as her domain. At times she demanded control of the communal food bowl and jumped on everybody that tried to get around her for a bite. Lily teased poor Lisa so much, at times even causing the long-haired black cat turmoil as she used the litter pans, something considered forbidden in the world of proper cat protocol.

It was when the humans put up what they call their Christmas tree that Lily got totally unbearable.

All the cats get a bit excited when the humans go changing things as a house cat's life can be very routine, some would say dull. Cats are creatures that mostly like routine being creatures that sleep over 20 hours a day. Still a change in scenery and routine is most welcome if not too often or disrupting, the change from the normal being the sort of thing that makes the routine more precious when normal returns.

Indeed Matthew too got excited when the humans got out the Christmas tree thing. Whatever the thing was for, it always had flashing lights and hanging things and boxes all around it. Everything a cat loves can be found around or on a human Christmas tree. And when the humans got out the Christmas tree they also added lots of things around the house, pretty colorful items of red and green, sock things to hang on a door frame, stuff with bells, shiny objects….a cat's love.

Of course Lily considered it all for her and this just made Matthew mad. What with Matthew being so much bigger than Lily Matthew could slap Lily back to her unrestrained senses and at times, in complete exasperation, he did. Lily would run screaming from Matthew's big swatting paws and too often the male human would yell, his yelling directed at the frustrated Matthew. Matthew was, after all, just fighting for his right to sit by the human Christmas tree, to swat at a hanging bell, to lay upon an opened gift.

"Santa Claus eats cats!"

This phrase shouted by Lily during one swat session that Lilly needed for her refusal to allow him access under the human Christmas tree caused Matthew to stop in shock.

Now Matthew knew about this human Santa Claus person, having watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with one sleepy eye and seeing various human items about with the Santa person on it. As Matthew cat-figured it, the Santa human had some connection to the Christmas tree and, indeed, the human grandchild would talk about upcoming Santa activities during her visits. At least the little grandchild girl, who also made Matthew nervous with her young human jerky motions, only was around once in a while. Matthew had to tolerate Lily every day of his nerve-wracking life.

As Matthew figured, this Santa human was a jolly guy, a big human but that didn't bother Matthew. He was, after all, a big cat. The thought of the Santa person eating cats scared Matthew more than he ever wanted to let Lily know. But Lily sensed that her words somehow scared Matthew and in the days leading up to the expected Santa visit Lily repeated the warning that Santa ate cats over and over.

Matthew has lived many of the human Christmas' for his years but so far as he knew Santa never visited his humans' home. Or if he did, Matthew slept right through it. This year was different in a way because the human girl grandchild and her parents would be spending Christmas eve with Matthew's humans. As Matthew heard his female human explain to his male human, they don't want to be driving far on Christmas day as there's an expectation of a bad snow storm. So the plan was for them all to come to Matthew's house and Santa would somehow be directed to deliver the human grandchild's gifts here.

Matthew tolerated all the human uproar once the human girl grandchild and her parents arrived, their loud talk, the little girl looking for him like she always does and Matthew, like he always does, hid under the bed, safe from small hands. He did hear all the talk about this Santa human coming down the chimney and Matthew decided he would stay far away from any human who ate cats. Not that Matthew believed that lying Lily but just in case.

And so Matthew waited nervously after all the humans finally went to bed. He couldn't resist a peek out from under the bed but he was a bit scared. He actually began to shiver when he heard the loud "HO! HO! HO!" coming from the roof for it would seem that Santa would be visiting his house this year as promised to the human girl grandchild.

Matthew did his best to stay hidden under the couch as the Santa human placed those present things under the tree. It’s a cat curiosity thing. For even though Matthew feared this Santa human who eats cats, he couldn’t help but be intrigued by the big red human. The Santa human, however, saw Matthew’s orange paw and before Matthew could run he was being held by the Santa human.

“My aren’t you a big boy?” the Santa human said, stroking Matthew in a way he quite liked. Matthew shivered in his fear that he would soon become Santa’s snack that the human girl grandchild said she had to leave for Santa.

With a booming voice that again startled Matthew, the Santa human bellowed a Ho! Ho! Ho! “Who told you that I eat cats?” Santa asked Matthew, only the Santa human didn’t quite “ask” in the same way Matthew’s humans asked what he wanted when he meowed. In fact, the Santa human’s mouth didn’t even move but somehow, to Matthew’s surprise, the Santa human knew of his fear of being eaten and told him about it without making a human sound.

“Hmmmm,” the Santa human said in muse, still stroking Matthew until, with no power left to resist, Matthew began to purr, “I see you’re worried about your co-cat Lucy and your buddy Bruiser”. Matthew purred on as the Santa human stroked, still amazed at how this Santa human “spoke” to him.

“Come on,” the Santa human said, “let’s go for a ride”. And before Matthew could utter a meow of protest he was soaring through the sky on the Santa human sled that didn’t resemble his humans’ cars in any way. The Santa human talked to his reindeer in the same way he talked to Matthew.

“This is Rainbow Bridge, Mr. Matthew,” the Santa human, parking his sleigh beside some sort of cloud. Matthew’s kittenish eyes opened wide with the beauty of what he saw. When Matthew saw Lucy and Bruiser sitting side by side, purring and enjoying each other’s company in that age-old manner of cats, Matthew couldn’t hold back his meow of delight.

“Yes, Matthew, Lucy and your buddy Bruiser, and Liberty, and Ernie and Julio, and Gloria, and Jimmy, and Phantom, and Pinky and Cleetus and Herb and Liberty, they’re all here.”

Matthew did remember some of the names the Santa human mentioned. Some of the pets Santa named were the human pets before Matthew came to live with them. Matthew didn’t know this but he sure knew the big dog Gloria and Jimmy and a couple of others. Some of them were playing, some were drinking from the sparkling stream running under the Rainbow Bridge. Matthew tried to catch his friend Bruiser’s eye but couldn’t.

“No, Matthew, you can’t talk to your friend Bruiser,” the Santa human said, again surprising Matthew who was trying to grasp a concept of reading minds, much less with a cat brain at that. “But you can see them and you can only see them because I brought you here. See, I can ride up in the clouds in my sleigh. So for all your fear that I eat cats, you’re kind of lucky I came to your home tonight.”

Matthew settled in the Santa human’s arms and purred as he watched his former co-pets frolic in that place called Rainbow Bridge. Evidently his own humans knew about this place judging by the pictures on their wall. Matthew paused his purr as he considered when it might be his time to go to Rainbow Bridge.

“You still have quite a few years before you’ll be joining your friend Bruiser, Matthew. Your co-cats now, Lily and Lisa and that new black kitten coming to your house tomorrow morning all need you around for your comfort and great head-lickings. And don’t forget that dog which you adore. Just know that you will be with them all again when the time comes.”

The Santa human settled down again in the driver’s seat of the sled-car and Matthew gazed in wonder at the stars and clouds passing by his kittenish eyes. Matthew also wondered what the Santa human meant by his reference to the new black kitten.



“You shall see tomorrow morning, Matthew. And tell that Lily that the only cats I eat are calicos named Lily,” the Santa human said.

The next thing Matthew heard was the shouts of the human girl grandchild shouting to her parents to come see the gifts Santa left under the tree. All of the humans came out from their bedrooms and Matthew looked around for the human Santa.

Then Matthew heard a small meow. “A KITTEN!” the human girl grandchild shouted and to Matthew’s surprise there was, indeed, a small black and white fellow walking out from under the human Christmas tree. Matthew heard his human female tell his human male that the kitten was a gift for him, that the house needed the joy of a kitten after losing Lucy.

Matthew’s eyes followed the kitten as he played with the wrapping paper stuff torn off with vigor from the human girl grandchild’s gifts. Matthew listened to the sounds of the humans, he watched the kitten play, he smelled something good being cooked by his human female.

Matthew settled down in his private nook and began a good nap.

“Lucy's at Rainbow Bridge,” Matthew heard the human girl grandchild say.

“Now, now, there’s no such place,” Matthew heard the human girl grandchild’s father say. “But it’s a nice thought,” the man finished.

“You don’t know that there’s no such place, Daddy,” the human girl grandchild told her father. “It’s a part of heaven only it’s a place where pets to wait for their humans to get them before they all go to heaven.”

Matthew saw the human girl grandchild’s father pat her on the head indulgently. Matthew settled down for his nap in his private niche, a feline smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

This time Matthew knew more than the humans around him. He also knew way more than that silly Lily will ever know.